FirePumpDesignIntent2006CodesNFPA20,IBC,andIFC

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FIREPUMPDESIGNINTENT
2003NFPA20,2002NFPA13,and2006IBC&IFC
ToAccompanyArchitecturalReview
Listed items require revision or clarification by contractual documentation (i.e., revised
drawings,specifications,addenda,etc.)beforeplanscanbeapproved. Answersinletterform
are not acceptable. Design intent must be submitted by a fire protection sprinkler system
engineer or architect. Starting construction before plan approval may be considered as
justcausebythestatetoissueastopworkorder.[Rule07800203.02]
Architectural
1. Thefirepumproommustbeseparatedfromallotherspacesofthebuildingby2hourfire
rated construction. The rating may be reduced to 1hour if the building is fully sprinklered
withaNFPA13system.[NFPA205.12.1.1]
2. Provide heat (NFPA 20 5.12.2), lighting (NFPA 20 5.12.3), emergency lighting (NFPA 20
5.12.4), ventilation (NFPA 20 5.12.5), and a floor drain in the pump room (NFPA 20
5.12.6).
Mechanical
1. Provide a plan and a cross section of the fire pump room. Identify anyequipmentthatis
not fire pump related (plumbing, mechanical, electrical, etc.). [2006 IFC Section 913 and
NFPA205.2.3]
2. Identify the fire pump manufacturer and model with pump and driver ratings. Identify the
manufacturerofthecontrollerandtransferswitches(ifapplicable).[NFPA205.7]
3. All controllers andtransferswitchesshallbespecificallylistedforelectricmotordrivenfire
pumpservice.[NFPA2010.1.2.1]
4. Provide a fire pump system schematic showing all system components including valves,
tamper switches, check valves, controllers, pumps, bypass, test header, suction and
discharge line. If the system supplies standpipes and sprinklers, show all main system
componentsontheschematic.
5. Provideagraphsheetshowingthefollowinginformation.
A. Water supply combined curve (i.e., separate fire pump curve, public water supply
curve, and a third curve showing the combined pump and public water supply effect).
[NFPA13Chapter14,A.14.3.2,andFiguresA.14.3.2(a)thru(d)]
B. Verifythatpumpoperationdoesnotreducesuctionpressureheadbelowallowableper
NFPA 20 5.14.3. Include pressure losses from the backflow preventer and meter if
needed.
C. Verify that the water supply is capable of delivering 150 percent of the pumps rated
capacity.[NFPA205.6.5]
FirePumpDesignIntent2006CodesNFPA20,IBC,andIFC
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6. Show the fire department connection. It must be on the discharge side of the fire pump.
[NFPA136.8]
7. Provideapumpbypassandameanstotestthepump.[NFPA205.14.4and5.19.1]
8. Provideapressurereliefvalve.[NFPA205.18]
9. Provide a jockey pump. [NFPA 20 5.24] Show check andcontrolvalvesatthedischarge
piping,andacontrolvalveatthesuctionpiping.[NFPA20FigureA.5.24.4]
10. Each jockey and fire pump controller must have separate sensing lines and be located
between the discharge check and control valves. [NFPA 20 10.5.2.1 and Figure
A.10.5.2.1(a)&(b)] Showthisontheplansanddiagram/section.
11. For fire pumps in highrise buildings where electric motors are usedandtheheightofthe
structure is beyond the pumping capability of fire department apparatus, a reliable
emergency source of power shall be provided. [NFPA 20 9.2] For reliable sources, see
NFPA209.2.
12. Provideearthquakeprotectionbasedonseismicdesignrequirements.[NFPA205.27]
13. Checkvalvesandbackflowpreventiondevicesmustbelistedforfireprotectionserviceand
whenlocatedupstreamofthepumpshallbelocatedaminimumoftenpipediametersfrom
thepumpsuctionflange.[NFPA205.26.1,5.26.3,and5.14.3]
Electrical
1. Power for electric motor driven fire pumps must be from a reliable source or two or more
independentsources.[NFPA209.2]
2. Wheremultipleelectricpowersourcesareprovided,theyshallbearrangedsothatafireat
onesourcewillnotcauseaninterruptionattheothersource.[NFPA209.2.5.1]
3. Where power is supplied by a service, it must be arranged to minimize the possibility of
damage by fire. [NFPA 20 9.2.2 and .3] Serviceentrance conductors or fire pump feeder
conductorsmustbephysicallyroutedoutsidethebuildingandmustbeinstalledasservice
entranceconductorsincompliancewith2005NFPA70,Article230.Whenroutedthrough
orunderthebuilding,itmustbeencasedinconcreteatleast2thick.[NFPA209.1.3and
2005NFPA70,Article695.6(A),230.6(1),or(2)]
4. Thepowersupplyfeedingthefirepumpandaccessoriesmustbededicated,and directly
connectedwithnodisconnectdevicetothepowersource.[NFPA209.2,9.3,andA.9.3.2]
Exceptthatasingledisconnectingmeansandassociatedovercurrentprotectivedeviceis
permitted between a power source remote from the fire pump room and controller or
transfer switch or listed combination of both. [NFPA 20 9.3.2.2.3.1] This disconnect must
besupervised.[NFPA209.3.2.2.3.2(E)]
5. Wherealternatepowerissuppliedbyanonsitegenerator,thegeneratormustbe located
andprotectedinaccordancewith9.2.2andSection9.6.[NFPA209.2.5.2]
FirePumpDesignIntent2006CodesNFPA20,IBC,andIFC
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6. All controllers must be located close to the motor with access for servicing. [NFPA 20
10.2.1]
7. Transferofpowertothefirepumpcontrollerbetweenthenormalsupplyandthealternate
supplymusttakeplacewithinthefirepumproom.[NFPA209.6.4]
8. Manual transfer switches may not be used to transfer power to the fire pump controller.
[NFPA2010.8.1.2]
9. Afirepumpcontrollermaynotbeusedasajunctionboxtosupplyotherequipment(jockey
ormakeupcontrollers).[NFPA2010.3.4.6]
10. No remote device may be installed that will prevent automatic operation of the transfer
switch.[NFPA2010.8.1.3]
11. All pump room wiring must be in rigid, intermediate, or liquid tight flexible metal conduit,
LFNCB, listed Type MC cable, Type MIcable,orotherapprovedmeans.[NFPA209.1.3
and2005NFPA70,Article695.6(E)]
12. Ifthepumpisnotconstantlyattended,thecontrollermusthaveconnectionstoprovidean
audibleorvisualalarminaconstantlyattendedlocationforthefollowingconditions.[NFPA
2010.4.7]
A. Controllerhasoperatedintoamotorrunningcondition.
B. Lossofpowertooneofthephasesonthelinesideofthemotorcontactor.
C. Phasereversalonthelinesideofthemotorcontactor.
D. Controllerconnectedtoalternatesourcewheretwosourcesofpoweraresupplied.